Video Game Design School

There is unlimited opportunity in the video game design industry which has become one of the fastest growing a most exciting fields to enter. Each year more and more students are choosing to become video game designer and enrolling in colleges and universities that offer courses and degrees in game design, game art and development. When choosing a school there are a number of things to consider like is the school highly ranked, is the game design program run and taught by video game industry professionals and after completing the game design program what entry level jobs will you be qualified for.

We have compiled a list of Colleges and Universities that offer degrees in

Game Design

Game Art

Video Game Development

Character Design

3D Animation

3D Modeling

and Illustration

.
Some of the classes you can expect to take at these game design schools are: Video Game Design, Prototyping, Level Design, Visual Development, Game Art, Visual Effects, Character Design, 3D Modeling, Story Boarding and more!

This list of video game design schools is constantly evolving schools are added weekly so check back often.

Game Art Degree

You know good video game graphics when you see them, and if you're interested in a career creating the content you see up on screen, Full Sail's Game Art Bachelor's Degree Program can help you learn the same production methods used to create 3D art in the professional gaming industry.

This degree program focuses on the fundamentals of interactive graphics development – including character creation, scene design, asset production, in-game effects, and the physics of motion.
You'll learn how these principles function within a game engine, and how to take your ideas from a simple sketch to a complex 3D model that moves and articulates realistically. Further classes will show you how to add even greater depth to your models with the use of textures, lighting, and visual effects.

The practical application of these combined skills is your final design project, which pairs you with students in our Game Design and Game Development degree programs to create a complete game. You'll collaborate with this team of game programmers and producers to design and create the characters and objects, as well as build the 3D environments they inhabit.

In addition to giving you a physical example of the art production techniques you've learned during the Game Art degree, the experience also helps you develop the personal and professional skills that will help you be a more effective member of a game development team.

Featured Game Design School

DeVry University's bachelor's degree program in Game and Simulation Programming (GSP) produces graduates poised to make an impact in the industry. Master the coding languages, visual design principles, and software methods used in the development of video games, crime scene reconstruction, corporate training software, and more. We also partner with industry-leading companies like Vivendi/Universal to offer students experiential learning opportunities and networking contacts to potential employers around the world. With the video game industry charting revenues in excess of $21 billion1, and the U.S. Army alone investing millions in simulation training, exciting new jobs in gaming and simulation programming are created every day.
Your Game and Simulation Programming degree from DeVry University will prepare you for success.

Digital Entertainment and Game Design

The Digital Entertainment and Game Design program in the School of Drafting and Design at the ITT Technical Institutes can help graduates prepare for career opportunities in a variety of entry-level positions involving the technology associated with the design and development of digital games and multimedia applications. Courses in this program offer a foundation in digital game design through the study of subjects such as gaming technology, game design process, animation, level design and general education coursework.

Graduates of this program may pursue entry-level career opportunities in a number of different digital entertainment and game design companies. Job functions may include working in a team to design, develop, test and produce video games, or create animations and 3D scenes for use in video games.

Video Game Design & Programming

Take it to the next level in our programs designed to teach game design and programming.

You’ve got a passion for games. And an imagination that knows no bounds. Put them together with an education focusing on game design and programming, and you can pursue a future that’s fast-paced, fulfilling, and a lot of fun. At The Art Institutes system of schools, you’ll have an opportunity to take your talent to the next level as you use industry-current tools and technologies to create virtual worlds and characters. Game design and programming courses offered at our schools will take you through the art of image manipulation, creative storytelling, 3-D modeling, texture mapping, and much more. This is hands-on, real-world schooling that prepares you to pursue entry – level opportunities such as game designer, modeler or visual effects specialist. So explore the programs below. And find out how an exciting future in game design and programming can start at The Art Institutes system of schools.

Video Game Design & 3D Animation

Games and interactive immersive worlds grab you and provide not only entertainment, but education, cultural enrichment, and groundbreaking social interaction. There is no limit to the potential in the game design field, which is quickly becoming the premiere medium for cultural storytelling, information and entertainment. More students are enrolling in game design colleges because virtual worlds and interactive environments touch every part of our lives, from the games we play to the phones we use.

One of the top game design schools in the nation, Academy of Art University offers video game design programs led by industry professionals. The hands-on, interactive curriculum in the game design school includes game design courses that prepare each student for creative success.

More Video Game Design Schools

Our instructors will use their current gaming industry experience to create a learning environment that resembles the world you'll be entering. Traditional and digital art fundamentals such as drawing, color, design, and computer applications will give you the background you need to start learning the techniques of animation, storyboarding, 2D and 3D modeling, lighting effects, and texture mapping. And you'll also learn how to apply the principles of gaming, balance and usability to plan and devise game rules and mechanics; create the entire gaming experience; and develop games that can be used in industry-standard engines through every stage of the production pipeline.

Here, you can work with the same hardware and software industry professionals use, including Intel Xeon Mac Pros; iMac computers; Intel-based PCs; game engines, including CryENGINE, Valve, Unreal Engine 2, Unity, and Microsoft XNA; and other software, including Photoshop, Flash Professional, Zbrush, Source, Pro Tools, Autodesk 3ds Max, and Maya. So you can build a digital portfolio designed to impress potential employers. Our game art and design programs can prepare you for such entry-level positions as game designer, 2D/3D animator or artist, cinematic artist, game tester/analyst, level artist, or texture artist at places like game developers, software companies, education companies, and more.

The Game Art and Design program prepares students for a career in the interactive entertainment industry through immersive training in core-competency areas; which include fine arts, theory, and projects that mirror the professional pipeline production environment of a video game designer. This pipeline creates a solid foundation for students as they move toward entering the industry of video game design and development. Early classes in the program develop fine art skills and an aesthetic foundation that supports all subsequent work. Fundamentals in craft and tool application are introduced in the sophomore and junior years through a series of hands-on classes that build skill sets in 2D computer graphics, scripting, 3D modeling, animation, texture, and lighting. Students will also begin the design and development of their first game level through group work that simulates professional pipeline production techniques.

In the Online Game and Simulation program, you will understand and be able to apply the technical concepts and knowledge needed to develop video games and simulation projects from concept to finished product. This Online Bachelor's degree will enhance your critical thinking and reasoning abilities, information literacy, and communication skills. The knowledge you gain will enable you to begin a career in the video game and simulation production industry.

The videogame industry, commonly known as interactive entertainment, is growing by leaps and bounds. Here at Brown we embrace a strong education in game design which seeks to shape tomorrow's interactive entertainment visionaries, helping them become team-based creative problem solvers and contributors to our increasingly global culture. Career opportunities for Game Design & Development graduates span a range of sectors. They can apply their skills to create the next hit console title, military training simulations, medical diagnosis tools, educational systems, next-generation marketing of course, a range of digital and traditional game types. Classes in the Game Design and Development degree program are designed to be as riveting as the games they focus on studying. While pursuing a degree in game design, you learn to become adaptable team-player, leader, and entrepreneur ready to tackle big studio and indie opportunities as they present themselves in today's dynamic marketplace. This is no simple task, but with the power of will and determination you can be a qualified interactive entertainment professional.

Learn from industry experts from leading companies such as SEGA, ImageWorks, Disney, and more. We're one of the United States' most technologically equipped digital artist colleges. We have the tools and techniques to empower your creative career.

Animation Program
Animation involves bringing artwork and characters to life with such precision that they truly seem real. Animation is part acting, part storytelling, and part visual art - it's a mix of both electronic arts and traditional animation skills. You'll study methods to create realistic movement in 3-D digital environments, and collaborate within a team environment to gain practical experience. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as 3-D character animator, modeler, and storyboarder.

Game Art & Design Program
Graduates are prepared to enter the Game Art and Design field as modelers, storyboard artists, animation artists, 3-D illustrators, digital artists, FX artists, video post-production artists, and broadcast graphics designers, as well as game designers. Learn what it takes to produce great art and design and use the skill to create applications used by the business, education, training and entertainment industries.

Digital Arts and Animation offers students preparation in four concentration areas: 3D Animation, Entertainment Design, Game Design, and 3D Modeling. The coursework bridges traditional and digital arts classes and includes solid components of theory, production, and general education. Digital Arts and Animation project classes provide many opportunities for collaborations with other programs at Cogswell, including Digital Audio Technology and Digital Arts Engineering. The Portfolio classes provide a format for bringing together all of the elements of the concept to delivery pipeline as students collaborate on multidisciplinary teams to complete real world projects.

The Game Art and Animation program prepares students for entry-level positions in the computer game and animation field. These positions are typically found in video game production studios, visual effects houses, TV production studios, and computer animation studios.

To prepare for a career in art and production in a video game studio, visual effects studio, or animation studio Madison Media Institute students are grounded in the principles of 3D computer graphics, modeling, texturing, animation, lighting, rendering, compositing, as well as traditional art skills. Graduates of the program will be positioned to enter the industry with expertise in all the standard studio tools. Students will learn how to build 3D models, animate characters and bring them into computer games using the state of the art computer game engine, Unreal III by Epic. Additional courses will give students a strong foundation in cinematography, performance driven story, and real and virtual world lighting techniques.

Students will work with the latest generation of video game development software including Autodesk's Maya, Motion Builder, and Mudbox as well as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects and Premiere. Additionally, students will learn how to use the revolutionary ZBrush modeling and texturing tool. As students progress through the program, they can concentrate on selected skill sets to prepare them as modelers, character animators and technical animators. Mentored directly by industry professionals, students will learn highly desirable traits and skills.

A highlight of the program will be firsthand experience in a working motion capture (Mocap) facility. Students will edit and integrate Mocap data, their own character and environment models and key frame animation into a working game.

The Game Art and Animation program includes a well rounded set of general studies, team building and job preperation course work. Graduates will leave with a complete portfolio which will include a game level, demo reel, website and DVD tailored to their artistic style and allow them to stand out from the crowd.

Learn the skills necessary to become a 3D artist and animator with the 3D Animation + Interactive Media Certificate. This cross-curriculum program integrates multiple aspects of 2D and 3D art, interactive media and animation with professional experience. You'll get hands-on training in modeling, design, texturing, animation, lighting and rendering for 3D design. Using Autodesk Maya, the leading 3D software tool for professionals, and web applications such as Adobe Flash, you'll work on a variety of projects: from product illustration and architectural visualization to character animation and web media presentation. When you finish the 3D Animation program, you'll leave with a portfolio and demo reel complete with 3D models, textures and animations to showcase your new skills.

People once called them games. Now we call them training for pilots and soldiers, learning tools for children, and totally-blow-your-mind-graphics. What was once a cottage industry is now an 11 billion dollar market that desperately needs programmers and designers. With the hands-on education Mt. Sierra College offers, students become skilled professionals. Graduates of the Games Arts & Design program enter the field eager to develop the next generation of games and simulations for a growing industry.

Students enrolling in the Game Arts and Design area of specialization will take courses that build a solid foundation in multimedia arts and design and will take specialized courses in game and simulation development.

Students specializing in Game Arts and Design will be prepared for employment in the areas of game and simulation development. Students will possess strong design abilities and will explore the world of interactivity so prevalent in the gaming, defense and health occupation arenas.

Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Game Arts and Design are prepared for eventual careers such as Game Designer, Graphics and Special Effects Programmer, Audio Programmer, Technical Director, Artist/Animator, 3D Modeler and Compositor, Artist/Animator, Art Director, Game Level Designer, Game Tester, and Creative Director.

If you have a love for technology, video game design and 3-D animation, our Digital Gaming Design program is just for you!

Our training allows students to use their creativity and technology skills to turn design hobbies into a career. We provide you with the latest training and equipment at our Maryland and Massachusetts game design schools. That's why we offer you the latest in hands-on video game design technology training.

Once you enroll in Digital Gaming Design at ACI you'll learn a valuable foundation in graphic design and move into 3-D animation and character and object development. Our 3-D and game designer program allows you to learn how to create three-dimensional worlds with animated characters for today's most popular gaming platforms.

The ACI Digital Gaming Design program introduces you to a variety of exciting careers, such as:

•Video game designer

•Particle systems artist

•3-D animator

•3-D effects artist

•Plus many more

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Digital Game Design jobs are expected to grow by 29% through 2018.* Now is the time to break into this popular career!

Keiser University's Associate of Science in Video Game Design presents the processes and skills required to perform game design and development. Students are immersed in creative and conceptual areas such as character development, 3-D modeling and animation, game documentation, game balance, interactive story telling and interface development.

Design program Objectives

The following objectives are designed to meet Keiser University's mission and its objectives.

To develop a student's ability to demonstrate knowledge of computer-based 3-D modeling, animation theory and techniques, level design and architecture, texturing and lighting

To prepare graduates for jobs as entry-level game programmers, modelers, animators, level designers, texture mappers and story developers

To develop a student's ability to think critically and communicate effectively

To assist students with development of programming languages and game engines

This certificate program is designed to prepare graduates for entry-level employment in the area of computer game programming, development, and design.

The successful graduate will be able to effectively apply standard programming concepts, including sound and graphics, in a console/computer game setting; create and utilize a framework for designing console/computer games; build and animate three-dimensional models; and apply the preceding as part of a group to create a comprehensive one-level game.

These objectives will provide our graduates with a firm grasp of the skills, knowledge, and abilities that are demanded by businesses in the computer/console gaming industry. Students will combine back-end programming and networking solutions with realistic multimedia interaction to satisfy the consumer's demand for exceptional game-playing experiences.

There is growing demand for skilled 3D modelers and animators for film, TV, and video game design. CDI's 3D Modeling Animation Art & Design program gives you a solid foundation in the artistic and technical skills you need to thrive in these competitive industries.

The program teaches key concepts like video game design programs, 3D modeling software, colour theory, life drawing, and other design fundamentals. Students will put their skills to use in the the production and animation of lighting, texturing, characters, layout and design. Graduates of this program will have built a strong portfolio that they can use to launch their careers in animation and design.

Students will be prepared to work in a variety of CGI based industries.

"The staff in Employment Services was very supportive and made sure that the students had the ability to produce a strong resume and to perform a thorough job search. Overall, I would recommend this college to anyone because of the high standards set by all staff." - Patrick S. CDI College graduate

Entertainment Design
The film and game industries aren't what they used to be. Thanks to the nonstop advances in modern technology, CG films are on the rise, the game universe is rapidly expanding and the entire field of visual entertainment is being blown wide open. It's a world of endless possibility, and illustrators are suddenly finding themselves playing a major role in shaping its future. They are now an integral part of the creative process, collaborating with writers and directors to create entire worlds for games, and their visionary ideas are a driving force behind the inception and creation of films. Art Center is on the cutting edge of these exciting changes. Anticipating rapid changes in today's entertainment industry, the College recenlty restructured its Film and Illustration Departments. The Illustration Department now specializes in two entertainment tracks - the Arts Track and the newly-launched Entertainment Design Track. Students learn to work in a collaborative environment, to see the big picture and to fully understand the new interdisciplinary way of filmmaking. The world is changing fast, and Art Center is providing the talent and resources to not only keep up, but to raise the visual bar to new levels.

SCAD animation program
The SCAD animation program has been ranked among the top three animation programs in North America by 3D World magazine.

Industry-standard Tools
Including After Effects, Premiere, Flipbook, Flash and Dreamweaver; Autodesk Maya; Anime Studio; Apple Shake; and Pixar RenderMan. School of Film and Digital Media resources also include a Vicon motion capture system.

SCAD, Savannah, Gary Goldman, animationGary Goldman is Winter Quarter Guest Animation Faculty Member
Legendary animator Gary Goldman, best known for his work on such animated classics as “The Secret of N.I.M.H.” (1982) and “All Dogs Go To Heaven” (1989), and the video games “Dragon's Lair” (1983) and “Space Ace” (1983), will join SCAD as artist-in-residence, teaching traditional 2-D animation.Request a Brochure >

Pratt Institute's Manhattan campus Center for Continuing and Professional Studies (CCPS)offers certificate programs in Computer Graphics. One area of concentration is in Computer Animation and Video. It is for students who wish to pursue careers in film , entertainment, special effects, game design and broadcast design. Study focuses on the creation and design of time-based media. Choose to focus on a variety of areas, including 2D and 3D animation,including traditional animation, digital video, and broadcast design. Students study the choreography and design of complex animated sequences, with topics including creation of titling sequences, editing, compositing, modeling, rendering, and animation. Final projects are edited to form a demo reel portfolio. Request a Brochure >

3DTI is a premier training institute that focuses exclusively in high-end 3d animation training in class-room settings and on-line. The 3DTI team includes creative directors, animators and instructors who have worked on films, television commercials and advertising campaigns for companies such as Samsung, Artesyn Technologies, Aiwa America, Proctor and Gamble and McDonalds.
Request a Brochure >

After working hard and earning a degree from one these video game design schools you should have an impressive demo reel and be qualified for a position at a video game company. Some of the graduates of the schools above have held positions at video game companies as Concept Artist, Level Designer, Lead Game Designer, Character Animator, Game Designer, 3D Modeler, Visual Effects Animator, Character Rigger, Texture Artist, 3D Animator and more.

This list of

Game Design Schools

grows everyday please send us any video game design schools we may have missed.